According to the 2022 Auditor-General’s Report, five university staff members received salaries for nearly two years despite being absent from duty, with some reportedly abroad or on study leave without proper authorization.

Appearing before the Committee on Thursday, November 6, 2025, Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Ohene Asiedu revealed that the university had recovered less than GH¢20,000 so far, adding that efforts were ongoing to trace the affected staff.

“We have been trying to contact some of the lecturers who are either abroad or on study leave. So far, the amount recovered is below GH¢20,000,” he told the Committee.

PAC members expressed disappointment over the university’s weak internal controls and lax enforcement measures. Deputy Chairman Samuel Atta Mills described the situation as “planned chaos,” criticizing KTU for failing to prevent and address the irregularities.

“This is government money—GH¢817,000 paid to separated staff. You claim you can’t reach them or show a recovery plan. This looks like deliberate negligence,” he said.

Mr. Atta Mills also disclosed that three of the five affected staff members did not sign bonds of agreement to return after their study leave, calling the lapse a “conspiracy to defraud the state.”

He directed the university to recover the outstanding funds within 90 days, warning that management members would be held personally accountable if they failed to comply.

“We are giving you 90 days to retrieve every pesewa. You have guarantors—use them. If the money isn’t recovered, you will refund it yourselves,” he warned.

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According to the 2022 Auditor-General’s Report, 15 staff members from the two universities were implicated in unauthorized disbursements made without proper justification or documentation.

Vice Chairman of the Committee, Davis Opoku, also expressed concern over persistent student complaints regarding delays in the release of semester results at some public universities.

Responding to the issue, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, attributed the delays to staff attrition and slow replacement processes.

At the University of Education, Winneba, Vice Chancellor Professor Stephen Jobson Mitchual revealed that some staff members had misappropriated approximately GHS 28 million, reportedly paid as honoraria without supporting documents.

The Committee noted that both universities continue to face operational challenges due to high staff attrition rates and bureaucratic delays in government recruitment approvals.

PAC Chair Samuel Atta Mills has directed that the implicated officers be referred to the Attorney-General’s Department for appropriate legal action.

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The Committee raised concerns that such practices pose serious safety risks, warning that they could lead to devastating consequences in the event of a fire or explosion.

Speaking during a committee sitting, the Acting Chair of PAC, Samuel Atta Mills, described the situation as alarming and unacceptable. He emphasized the need for the EPA to step up enforcement to safeguard lives and property.

“The dangers in siting petrol and gas stations within residential communities are real and deadly in times of emergencies. Such actions must not be entertained,” Mr. Atta Mills cautioned.

He further urged the EPA to review its licensing procedures to prevent operators from exploiting loopholes in the system, noting that some individuals were using falsified or questionable documents allegedly issued by the agency.

Committee Member and MP for Atwima Nwabiagya North, Frank Yeboah, also called on state institutions to strengthen oversight and address recurring regulatory breaches among both public and private entities.

“State agencies must work harder to stop the ritual of infractions we continue to see. We cannot afford to compromise public safety,” he said.

The PAC’s call follows growing reports of fuel and gas stations emerging in densely populated neighbourhoods, heightening public concern over weak enforcement of environmental and safety regulations.

Authorities have pledged to intensify monitoring and ensure that only duly licensed facilities operate in approved areas.

According to the Minister, Mensah received over GHS 400,000 in study leave benefits but resigned without fulfilling his bond obligation to the state.

Mr. Muntaka further disclosed that the guarantors of Mensah’s study leave, as well as the Fire Commissioner of the Gaming Commission, will also be held liable for repayment to ensure the government recovers the funds.

The Minister warned that senior police officers who overlook infractions such as unearned salaries and study leave breaches will face delayed promotions as a deterrent.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno told the committee that recoveries from study leave infractions had reduced outstanding liabilities to GHS 23,178.

PAC Chairperson Abena Osei Asare commended the Interior Minister’s firm stance and cautioned government employees who exploit study leave benefits without serving their bonds, warning that such conduct will not be tolerated.

Source: Ohene Amponsah

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A Principal Superintendent with the Ghana Education Service (GES) in the Gomoa West District, Emmanuel Samson, revealed that he knowingly received an overpayment of GH₵46,735.09, although he was only entitled to GH₵30,763.71 for his service from October 2017 to October 2019.

Mr. Samson, who teaches at Akropong Number One DA JHS, admitted to the committee that he had already spent the extra GH₵15,000 before realizing the overpayment.

Despite his efforts to repay the funds, financial difficulties prevented him from completing the repayment after making two initial payments.

During the hearing, Samson committed to repaying the remaining balance using an investment worth GH₵18,000 that he had set aside.

The PAC Chairman, James Klutse Avedzi, urged Samson to retrieve his investment and complete the repayment at the prevailing Bank of Ghana rates by the end of the month.

“The instruction is that at the end of the month, go for your investment, go and clear all the balance, all that is left is for you,” Mr. Avedzi said.

To which Mr. Samson replied: “Yes, I have heard you boss”.

Mr Avedzi added: “Don’t go for the investment and come back and say there is another problem so you can’t. Make sure you pay. if you don’t we will ask the auditors to take full action because what you did is actually criminal but we will leave that aspect, we will allow you to go for the investment and pay the money”.

The PAC is tasked with scrutinizing the accounts of public institutions, and such cases of financial discrepancies often come under its review.

Public Account Committee Sitting: “Yes, I chopped the money” – GES officer confesses to receiving GHC 15K salary overpayment.#JoyNews pic.twitter.com/XcPv4f1KGU

— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) August 20, 2024

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The Attorney General, Godfred Dame, is yet to initiate processes in prosecuting referrals made to him by Parliament based on the findings in the Auditor General’s Report.

The cases referred to the Attorney General includes infractions, breaches of procurement laws, and instances of receiving unearned salaries.

The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Dr. James Klutse Avedzi, is urging the state to prosecute the persons involved to serve as an example to others.

He hinted that all arrears in handling and dealing with the Auditor General’s report have been cleared.

Dr. Avedzi also debunked assertions that the Committee takes money from institutions in exchange for leniency when they appear before it.

Source:Ohene Amponsah

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Ussif had stated on August 19, 2024, before the Public Accounts Committee, that $3 million was paid to GBC as the official broadcaster for the Games.

Ussif acknowledged that GBC was indeed the official broadcaster for the 13th All African Games and confirmed that the payment exceeded $3 million.

“Yes, GBC was the official broadcaster for the 13th All African Games, and I can confirm that full payment has been made to GBC. I can’t remember the exact amount but I know that it is in the excess of $3 million,” Mustapha Ussif said.

However, Prof. Alhassan, speaking on Uniiq FM, countered these claims, stating that GBC received only $105,000 for its coverage of the Games.

He clarified that, this amount was used to cover costs associated with suspending some of the broadcaster’s regular programming during the event.

Alhassan also pointed out that, GBC was brought into the arrangement with less than a month to prepare before the Games.

“I want to state that GBC’s total benefit from the African Games was $105,000. Nothing more was paid to GBC,” he said.

“The GBC was invited to the table barely one month before the Games,” he added.

The 13th African Games, hosted by Ghana from March 8–23, 2024, saw the nation winning a total of 69 medals.

Audio below:

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The Public Accounts Committee has warned that it will now refer public officers who engage in procurement breaches for prosecution.

Consequently, it has referred several cases to the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) to initiate legal action.

The Committee of Parliament has now adopted strict measures to recover and reclaim monies owed to the state.

This time, the PAC has ordered the Ghana Tourism Authority to prosecute all officers involved in procurement breaches.

The Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, Dr. James Klutse Avedzi, questioned GTA officials on how many officers have been prosecuted.

Source: Ohene Amponsah

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The school was cited by the Auditor General for violating the Procurement Act in the purchase of some items in 2021 and 2022.

The items worth over GH₵300,000 involved some 17 entities.

This came up at the Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday, August 14, 2024.

The school’s justification for proceeding with the procurement process without adhering to the law.

But PAC Chairman, James Klutse Avedzi will have none of that.

“You have admitted that you have flouted so we will recommend you for prosecution,” he said.

Despite the School’s request for pardon, the Charman indicated that “what we can do is to refer you to the court that the court will set you free.”

“We don’t have that power here to do it. We can only recommend you, then the one that has the power will listen to your plea, go home free and don’t do it again” he added.

Source: Myjoyonline

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According to the Auditor General’s report, a shipment of condoms and birth control shots disappeared while in transit from the Temporary Central Medical Stores in Tema to the Regional Medical Stores in the Eastern Region in August 2022.

The Ministry’s driver, Joe Gyaten, failed to deliver three million condoms and other contraceptives to the Regional Medical Stores in the Eastern Region, in August 2022.

During a recent Public Accounts Committee session, Director of Policy Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation at the Health Ministry, Dr Alberta Biritwum-Naryko revealed that despite the passage of two years, neither the vehicle nor the missing items have been recovered.

“The driver immediately after, had a stroke, was very ill but has also retired. I cannot recollect the reasons why he could not deliver the items but the matter was the items could not be found and he had not also paid as at that time.”

When asked about the whereabouts of the vehicle used for transporting the items, Dr. Biritwum-Naryko said that locating the vehicle would be challenging.

She admitted that while the exact location of the vehicle remains unknown, it is clear that the items did not reach the Eastern Regional Medical Stores.

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This directive comes after the committee found his responses to the Auditor General’s concerns regarding a $16 million service contract between the Communications Ministry and Smart Infraco Limited to be unsatisfactory.

During the session, chaired by James Klutse Avedzi, the committee ordered Mr. Okyere-Fosu to provide comprehensive documentation, including letters, proposals, value-for-money reports, contracts, and invoices related to the Smart Infraco Limited deal.

A date will be scheduled for the Director-General to submit the requested documentation.

“I want a copy of the letter from the Ministry of Communication requesting SMART Infraco Limited to submit a proposal for the provision of this service. I need a copy of that letter from the Ministry of Communication. I also need the proposal submitted by SMART Infraco Limited, for the SMART Workplace Project.

“You wrote a letter to them, and they responded. They are in terms of a quota. I need a copy of their value-for-money reports on the SMART Workplace Project.”

“I also need copies or requests for quotations or proposals submitted by SMART Infraco to the following service provider contractors. Copies of evaluation and assessment reports of the SIL, then copies of both notification of award and acceptance letter. I also need a list of all MMBAs which have received support under the SMART Workplace Project. ”

“I also need copies of the signed completion certificate from NITA stating the full names and positions of the officers who signed the same. There may be three more. Copies of all invoices raised by the service providers. I need all this information.

“We will give you dates to come and appear before the committee and that date will be communicated to you by the committee through the class to the committee.”

“I want a copy of the letter from the Ministry of Communication requesting SMART Infraco Limited to submit a proposal for the provision of this service. I need a copy of that letter from the Ministry of Communication. I also need the proposal submitted by SMART Infraco Limited, for the SMART Workplace Project.

“You wrote a letter to them, and they responded. They are in terms of a quota. I need a copy of their value-for-money reports on the SMART Workplace Project.”

“I also need copies or requests for quotations or proposals submitted by SMART Infraco to the following service provider contractors. Copies of evaluation and assessment reports of the SIL, then copies of both notification of award and acceptance letter. I also need a list of all MMBAs which have received support under the SMART Workplace Project. ”

“We will give you dates to come and appear before the committee and that date will be communicated to you by the committee through the class to the committee.”

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James Klutse Avedzi, the Chairman of the Committee (PAC), announced this when the Principal Finance Officer of the College appeared during the Committee’s first zonal sitting in Sunyani.

Bia Lamplighter and Al-Faruq Colleges of Education as well as the Kumasi and Sunyani Technical Universities were other institutions that came before the Committee.

According to Avedzi, the College had engaged in the procurement of goods and services totaling GH¢276,807.22 without following proper procedures and without seeking alternative quotations, saying “it is a clear violation of the law.”

He said auditors had recommended strict adherence to the relevant provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663), and also suggested imposing sanctions on the management of the institution.

Avedzi advised Dr. Emmanuel Carsamer, the Principal and Mr. Frank Yeboah, the Finance Officer of the institution to prepare any evidence and explanations they might have regarding their actions when summoned.

During the sitting, the Committee also addressed various infractions committed by the institutions, which included the acquisition and usage of an educational portal system without the Auditor General’s approval and outstanding hostel fees. 

Other infractions were loss of rental revenue, failure to renew accreditation of programmes, failure to fulfill mandatory bond periods after course completion, unretired imprest, termination of appointments, non-maintenance of university hostel and clinic, payments of unearned salaries and allowances, overdue staff advances and unsubstantiated payments. 

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Mr Ebenezer Prince Arhin, the Deputy Human Resource Director of the Hospital, appearing before the PAC, said efforts made towards retrieving the funds from relatives of some of the deceased staff, in the last two years, has proven futile.

“The unearned salaries are GH¢115,889,12, and Korle-Bu has been able to recover GH¢79, 000 plus and the outstanding is GH¢36,000. We have made frantic efforts to recover that amount but some of them are deceased. We have gotten to their next of kin and we are pursuing them for the money,” he said.

Mr Arhin, therefore, pledged that Management would do all it could to retrieve the monies as directed by the Committee.

But the Chairman of PAC, Mr James Klutse Avedzi, rejected the explanation of the Hospital and charged the Management to refund the unrecovered amount to the Hospital’s accounts.

PAC commenced sittings on Monday, January 16, 2023, to examine the Auditor General’s Report on public accounts of the Government for the year 2020 and also scrutinise the accounts of the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies per the recommendations of the Report.

The accounts of public boards, corporations, and other statutory institutions would also be considered.

Proceedings of the almost two-week sitting are expected to be concluded on Friday, January 27, according to a statement issued by the Public Affairs Directorate of Parliament, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

According to the Chairman of the PAC, James Klutse Avedzi, those headmasters are fond of taking advantage of the system.

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Mr. Klutse Avedzi explained that the motive for the recommendation that the suspected headmasters be prosecuted is to serve as a deterrent to others.

“In the past, we have never referred officials or individuals for prosecution, so it looks like they are taking advantage of that, that it has become an annual ritual, we will only come, the chairman will caution and that will be the end.

“So we decided that now if you go against the law we will recommend you for prosecution. So you go to court and defend yourself and if the court thinks that your defense is sufficient or strong enough, they will set you free but if your defense is weak, then the court will apply the law to ensure that you face the punishment,” he said.

The schools whose headmasters are to be prosecuted by EOCO are; Methodist SHS, Tarkwa SHS, St. Augustine’s SHS, Bogoso SHS, and Adiembra SHS.

Meanwhile, a staff of Archbishop Porters SHS in Takoradi has also been referred to EOCO for allegedly receiving salaries unlawfully.

The PAC is currently holding hearings for eighteen Senior High Schools in the Western Region.

Chairman of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), James Klutse Avedzi, is calling on the government to confiscate proceeds from the sale of contracts by dismissed Public Procurement Authority (PPA) boss, Adjenim Boateng Adjei.

Mr Avedzi also wants all sole-sourced contracts awarded under Mr Adjei audited.

“Every income he generated from the back deal must be confiscated by the state and if sufficient enough, it will serve as deterrence for others who want to tow the same line,” he said.

His request comes on the back of Mr Adjei’s dismissal on Friday, October 30, 2020, by President Akufo-Addo after the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative (CHRAJ) ruled that he was unfit to hold public office.

The former PPA boss was busted in a documentary by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni for alleged sale of government contracts.

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CHRAJ, during its probe, investigated claims of whether or not Mr Adjei had improperly used his office for personal gain.

It found that there were many instances where Mr Adjei failed to disclose his private capacity interest or recuse himself when the Board was considering applications for restricted tender where TDL had been listed.

CHRAJ also directed that Mr Adjei be banned from holding any public office for the next five years.

However, speaking to the media on Monday, the Deputy Minority Leader described as lenient the ban imposed on him.

“I think it is a good beginning but he should not be allowed into the public service again; he can go and undertake his private business,” he added.

Listen to Mr Avedzi in the audio attached above:

The Auditor-General’s 2017 report revealed that 17.5% or GH¢13,288.63 VAT was not charged on eight sales invoices totalling GH¢75,935.00.

The report said the subsidiary of the Graphic Communications Group Limited failed to charge Royal House Chapel VAT on calendars it printed for the church in 2016 totalling GH¢12,775.00.

It further stated that VAT on printing of items for Action Chapel’s Impact 2016 programme totalling GH¢27,820 was also not paid.

Other companies included Raphael Sekle GH¢9,000.00, Mr Bamsah GH¢9,960.00, Choice Link Limited GH¢5,700.00, Shirley Acquah Harrison GH¢8, 450.00 for the printing of ‘The Wallet Gang’ and Sakoa Press with GH¢2,250.00, all totalling GH¢ 75,935.00

The report said the action by the management is in breach of Section 1 (1&2) of the VAT Act 2013, Act 860 as amended, and the management’s disregard to the Act resulted in the loss of GH¢13,288.63 expected tax revenue to government.

Mathias Kwame Ntow, a member of the Committee asked why the management of G-Pak Limited failed to charge 17.5% VAT on invoices of such contracts.

Responding to the Auditor General’s queries at Thursday’s PAC sitting, the Managing Director of G-Pak, James Edu Dadzie said they are making efforts to reach the clients to pay back the VAT it failed to charge.

He further told the committee that three out of the eight invoices of the clients have settled the VAT for government’s developmental agenda.

Mr Dadzie told PAC that the company is currently engaging the services of an agency to assist them in collecting the outstanding funds.

He confirmed that the company used part of its Internally Generated Funds to pay the Ghana Revenue Authority because failure by the clients to pay the VAT was caused by the company and G-Pak is doing its best to recover the funds to reimburse.

According to the 2017 audit report by the Auditor-General, the GPHA in 2011 entered into an agreement with an offshore company known as Scheepsbouw Noord for the construction and delivery of a Pilot Launch Boat.

GPHA subsequently paid 165,000 Euros out of the total contract sum of 1.1 million Euros, but the company for the past nine years has failed to honour its part of the contract.

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Appearing before PAC on Wednesday, the sector Minister said the German agent, who served as a consultant for the construction and delivery of the Pilot Launch Boat, is dead and efforts to trace his associates have been unsuccessful.

Mr Asiamah further noted that the Ministry had spent lots of monies on travels and other expenses to retrieve the money.

Responding to the Minister’s request, Chairman of PAC, James Kluste Avedzi, ordered the Ministry and GPHA to furnish the committee with all the expenses made as part of efforts to retrieve the monies from the company to inform their decision on the subject matter.

But Ras Mubarak who is Member of Parliament for Kumbungu believes the money could have been invested in provision of water and other basic amenities for rural communities.

He said compared to other mature artistes, Shatta Wale did not deserve the GH¢2 million given to him.

The member’s concerns follow media reports suggesting that the bank paid some huge sums of monies to Shatta Wale and actor and comedian, Kofi Adu, popularly known as ‘Agya Koo’ to be brand ambassadors.

Ras Mubarak is demanding for a full disclosure of payments made by the bank to the said brand ambassadors.

But, responding to the matter at PAC sitting Wednesday, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer with oversight over the Finance and Administration Division at GEXIM, Kwame Adu-Darkwa, said the bank engaged the services of a media consultant to support them in promoting made in Ghana products in the country.

He, however, insisted that he has not signed or cited any cheque doling GHC2 million to any artiste.

“You will be surprised how brand ambassadors can be good for promoting a particular sector. Sometimes what needs to be done is that if you have done incredible work, it will be good for people to know what their options are, and having a good brand ambassador to do that makes sense,” Mr Adu-Darkwa added.

Chairman of PAC, James Klutse Avedzi, said the committee will invite officials of the bank again to present details of the said payments to Shatta Wale and others.

Background

GEXIM was established by the Ghana Export-Import Bank Act 2016 (Act 911) to support the Government of Ghana’s quest for a feasible and sustainable export led economy.

The bank’s vision it to become a strong financial institution that will be a key engine in the development of Ghana’s export trade, facilitate cross border trade and make Ghana a pillar in regional and continental trade

The mission of the bank is to facilitate the transformation of Ghana’s economy into an export one by supporting and developing trade between Ghana and other countries, overseas investments by Ghanaian companies, and eliminate critical market failures in the Ghanaian economy, thereby, making Ghana competitive in the global marketplace.

The two pick-ups, belonging to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), according to a 2017 report by the Auditor-General, revealed that the two pick-ups, despite being repairable and usable, was still sold.

“We noted also that three fairly good vehicles of the Institute which could have been repaired at a reasonable cost and put to use, had been abandoned and left to the mercy of the weather,” the report added.

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Aside the two pick-ups, another Nissan hard body pick up was also sold for GHC 4,800 and another for GHC 4,600. Two other tractors were also sold for a total of GHC 12,600.

Chairman of the Committee, James Klutse Avedzi, expressed shock as officials of CSIR corroborate the Auditor-General’s report and laid out details of the auction undertaken in January 2020.

Ranking Member of the Committee, Alexander Abban, also questioned the basis for which the auctioneer was paid 7% of the total sum.

The arrest of the two finance officers of the Sefwi Akontombra District Assembly at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) should not be seen as a nine day wonder.

The Ranking Member of PAC, Kofi Okyere Agyekum has said on Adom FM’s morning show ‘Dwaso Nsem’ Tuesday.

Mr Agyekum has served notice that the committee will continue to cause the arrests of officials who go contrary to the laws of the country as far as the country’s finances are concerned.

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He explained the committee’s action on Monday, saying it was meant to serve as deterrent to others who break the .

“A lot of people are of the conviction that government officials are set free after committing different kinds of crimes but we want Ghanaians to know that the arrest of these officials will not be a nine day wonder and they would be punished appropriately,” he said.

Schooling Ghanaians on the works of the committee, Mr Agyekum who is also the MP for Fantekwa South said their work was to ensure that every institution spent government money wisely.

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According to him, the two government officials committed obvious crimes by presenting false documents, which was why they were arrested.

He added that their job as a committee was not to prosecute officials since there institutions mandated to discharge that duty, saying he believed that causing the arrest of the officials was the best thing the committee did.

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Isaac Akowuah and James Essilfie, who were sent to the Parliament Police Station, were accused of attempting to deceive the Committee during a hearing on Monday, 20 January 2020.

The Chairman of the Committee, who was unimpressed with what he believed was a deliberate attempt by the finance officers to keep some payment vouchers from the Committee said the two were in contempt of the Committee.

Listen to the PAC official in audio above

Source: Adomonline.com | Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy

Chairman of PAC, James Klutse Avedzi, on Monday ordered the arrest of two officials who were picked up by Parliament’s police after they were cited for irregularities at the Sefwi Akontombra Assembly in the Western region.

“Are we documentation examiners? Are we fraud examiners? On what basis did we say the document is compromised,” Mr Afenyo-Markin quizzed.

 Speaking in an interview on Accra-based Citi FM, Mr Afenyo-Markin questioned the PAC’s order for the arrest of two district assembly officials accused of lying to the Committee.

“We shouldn’t set a bad precedent. Under criminal jurisprudence, due process is essential, therefore to me, as a matter of law, if there were issues regarding the testimonies, Avedzi should have filed a complaint or go to the police to file a complaint,” he said.

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To Mr Afenyo-Markin, stressed procedure is of as much importance as substance in corruption fight.

He added that Mr Avedzi could even compromise the committee’s mandate by “overzealously acting in a manner that will abuse people’s rights” because certain conclusions “require proper investigative evaluation.”

Two persons: Isaac Akowaah, a former District Finance Officer of the assembly and James Esilfie, the current District Finance Officer, were accused of conniving to lie to the committee over irregularities cited in their report, hence their arrest.

Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), James Klutse Avedzi, has caused the arrest of the former and current officers of the Sefwi Akontombra District Assembly in the Western region.

The two, former District Finance Officer for Sefwi Akontombra Assembly, Isaac Akowuah and the current officer, James Esilfie, were unable to produce receipt vouchers according to the 2015/2016 Auditor General’s report.

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Mr Avedzi, who was not happy about the conduct of the two government officials, asked that they be whisked away to Parliament Police Station for their caution statements to be taken.

He said their statements would be used against them in the law court because the two connived to deceive the Committee.

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“The police will take a statement from you and that statement will be used against you. We will not prosecute you, the government will do so,” he said.

Background

The Auditor General’s 2015 and 2016 reports raised issues about the absence of 62 payment vouchers of the assembly expenditures.

It came up when Messrs Akowuah and Esilfie appeared before the Committee last week and they were asked to produce the vouchers.

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They could not and said they could come back and produce them. They showed up on Monday with the vouchers but the Committee said they were not valid. Only one was valid.

Then the chairman asked that they be taken away to the police station to go write their statements.

Listen to the PAC chair in audio above:

Much as the hearings are not to witch-hunt officials who come before committee, Dr Avedzi explained that there was the need for them to be forthright in answers they would give for the interrogations.

Dr Avedzi, who is also the Deputy Minority Leader and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ketu North gave the caution at the beginning of public hearings of the committee on Tuesday, April 25, 2017, which would run upto Friday, April 28, 2017.

The Committee is to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the issues raised by the Auditor General in its 2015 reports referred to it by the Speaker of Parliament for consideration.

“I wish to state empathically that this committee meeting is not witch-hunting; it is not a witch-hunting exercise. Our mission is to ascertain the truth of the issue raised by the Auditor General in its report,” Dr Avedzi said on Tuesday at the beginning of its hearings, at Parliament House.

He added: “You’re however reminded that you’re before the committee to respond to queries raised by members under oath. Peddling of falsehood or deliberate misinformation could have legal consequences.

“You’re therefore advised to speak to things and if you do not have any information or you are not aware or sure of the information, please say so. We are open to frank discussions,” he told the witnesses.

During this week’s hearings, the committee would interrogate four reports of the Auditor- General, bordering on infractions on statements of foreign exchange receipts and payments of BOG for the half year ended 31 June, 2015 and half year ended 31 December 2015; performance reports on the disposal of government vehicles by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Ministry of Health, and the performance report on drug use in Ghana by the FDA.

The issues to be interrogated about the Foods and Drugs Board are to ensure safety and quality of medicine use in Ghana.

The Public Accounts Committee is one of the accountability mechanisms established under the 1992 constitutions to ensure that public officials entrusted with public funds properly accounts for the resources under their custody.

The public hearing which will be focus on four (4) reports will start from Tuesday, April 25 to Friday 28, 2017 within it first sitting.

Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, James Klutse Avedzi said the committee will also deal with drug use in Ghana by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).

Klutse Avedzi who is also Deputy Minority Leader was speaking at the opening of a three days capacity Building Workshop for members of the Parliamentary Press Corps organize by the GIZ in Koforidua.

Meanwhile, Deputy Ranking Member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Nana Marfo Amaniampong stated that the workshop will enhance the capacity of the press corps in discharging its duties.

Dean of Parliamentary Press Corps, Nana Binkorang plead with the leadership of the committee to make copies of the Auditor General’s reports to enable them report factually.